Rangers, Kinsler agree on 5-year deal

Published 6:00 pm, Monday, February 18, 2008

The Texas Rangers have locked up the middle of their infield through 2013.

The Rangers and second baseman Ian Kinsler agreed Tuesday on a five-year, $22 million contract with a club option valued at $10 million for the 2013 season. If the Rangers decline the option, Kinsler would get a $500,000 buyout.

The deal comes about a year after the Rangers signed All-Star shortstop Michael Young to a five-year, $80 million extension.

Kinsler contacted Young several times during his negotiations.

"He's been through this whole process before," Kinsler said. "He never told me what to do. He was basically an adviser. He is someone I respect and someone I play right next to. To be able to pick his brain about something like this was very important. He helped me out tremendously."

Young and Kinsler have been paired since Kinsler won the job at second in spring training two years ago. He singled off Boston's Curt Schilling in his first major-league at-bat and was hitting .476 when he dislocated his left thumb eight days later.

Kinsler's contract, which runs through 2012 with an option for 2013, includes a $1 million signing bonus and a $500,000 salary for 2008. It will escalate to $3 million in 2009, $4 million in 2010, $6 million in 2011 and $7 million in 2012.

"It's a lot of money," Kinsler said. "I've never imagined being in this position in my life. The whole arbitration process is tough on both sides."

He said it was a plus to be able to avoid arbitration.

"I was not trying to set the bar and make the most money for a second baseman. I'm just here to play the game and be treated fairly," Kinsler said. "All I wanted the Rangers to do is step up and make a commitment to me. They did, and I made a commitment to them. I wanted to get it done this year."

Kinsler, who made $390,708 in 2007, said he is not too worried about the pressures that arrive with a big salary.

"I'm going to play the same regardless of whether I'm making five dollars or one trillion dollars," he said. "I'm going to go out there and play hard and money doesn't bring respect. The way you play the game brings respect. When I finish playing the game, it's not how much money I made that is going to be legacy. It's how I played the game and what I did on the field. I understand that. I've been booed without this contract and I've been cheered without this contract. It will probably be the same with it."

The Rangers finished last in the American League West last year, although they ranked fifth in the AL with 706 runs. Only three AL clubs, however, had an earned run average worse than the Rangers' 4.75.

Kinsler said he took into consideration the direction the club is headed and who is coming up behind me while making his decision.

"I really believe we can win this year. Offensively and defensively, I feel we're head and shoulders above where we were last year," Kinsler said. "As far as pitching goes, those guys know what they need to do. They need to step up and compete again everyday and let us work offensively. They understand that. That's what it is going to take to win."

The 24-year-old Kinsler finished 2006 at .286 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs and led AL rookies with 27 doubles. His batting average dropped to .263 last season, but he had 20 home runs and 23 steals. He was one of six AL players with at least 20 homers and 20 steals.

A 17th-round pick out of Missouri in 2003, Kinsler signed with the Rangers after getting drafted twice by Arizona without agreeing to a contract. He won two Arizona high school championships in suburban Tucson.

"Ian stands for what we believe in, both on and off the field," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's the right person and player for us to commit to right now, as we build toward a championship."